The president tweeted Friday, “Beto O’Rourke is a total lightweight compared to Ted Cruz, and he comes nowhere near representing the values and desires” of Texans. Trump added: “He will never be allowed to turn Texas into Venezuela!”

That came two days removed from the president tweeting that O’Rourke was a “flake” after the Democrat used a debate to borrow a Trump nickname for Cruz while both were bitter rivals during the 2016 Republican presidential primary, “Lyin’ Ted.”

Polls have O’Rourke staying within 10 points of Cruz in deep-red Texas.

Trump’s Monday evening event with Cruz in Houston is designed to keep O’Rourke from pulling the upset.